Homelessness up 10%

44,160 households were accepted as homeless last year, according to the latest statistics issued by the Communities and Local Government Department today - that's a 10% increase on the previous year.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: 'It is perhaps the most shocking consequence of our housing crisis that so many households in our affluent nation do not have a home to call their own.

'These figures come at the very time Government plans within the Localism Bill will weaken the rights of homeless people further, by allowing councils to push homeless families into the private rented sector. This will ultimately trap them in a constant cycle of insecurity and homelessness, with devastating outcomes for children and families.

'Removing a fundamental strand of our housing safety net is a massive blow to the most vulnerable people in society and we strongly urge the Government to seriously rethink their plans.'